Sept 21st
The Feast of St Matthew the Apostle
No one was more shunned by the Jews than a publican, who was a Jew working for the Roman enemy by robbing his own people and making a large personal profit. Publicans were not allowed to trade, eat, or even pray with others Jews.

One day, while seated at his table of books and money, Jesus looked at Matthew and said two words: “Follow me.” This was all that was needed to make Matthew rise, leaving his pieces of silver to follow Christ. His original name, “Levi,” in Hebrew signifies “Adhesion” while his new name in Christ, Matthew, means “Gift of God.” The only other outstanding mention of Matthew in the Gospels is the dinner party for Christ and His companions to which he invited his fellow tax-collectors. The Jews were surprised to see Jesus with a publican, but Jesus explained that he had come “not to call the just, but sinners.”
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Sept 16th
If you struggle with a chronic sin, this meditation is of great value to contemplate in your journey.
The misery of relapsing into sin
Spiritual Readings- St Alphonsus
St. Jerome says that many begin well but few persevere. The Holy Ghost declares that he who perseveres in holiness to death, and not he who begins a good life, shall be saved. But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved (Matt. xxiv. 13). The crown of Paradise, says St. Bernard, is promised to those who commence, but it is given only to those who persevere.
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St. Paul tells us that we have to contend not with men like ourselves, made of flesh and blood, but with the princes of hell. Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers (Ephes. vi. 12). By these words he wishes to admonish us that we have not strength to resist the powers of hell, and that, to resist them, the Divine aid is absolutely necessary: without it, we shall always be defeated; but, with the assistance of God’s grace, we shall, according to the same Apostle, be able to do all things, and shall conquer all enemies. I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me (Phil. iv. 13). But this assistance God gives only to those who pray for it. Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find (Matt. vii. 7). They who neglect to ask do not receive. Let us, then, be careful not to trust in our resolutions: 
[Read the entire reflection here:]

Sept 14th
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, for when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor 12: 9-10
It seems that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was sent to humble him so that he might not exalt himself as a result of the great revelations given to him. Paul’s first desire was to have the thorn removed and he asked the Lord three times that it might be taken away. The answer came to him that the trial was a blessing: through the weakness and humiliation it brought, the grace and strength of the Lord could better be manifested.
Quoted from “humilty” by Andrew Murray. The Journey Toward HolinessS

Sept 13th
Isiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
If we believe in Him, if we believe that He is who He says He is, then we must believe that He is bigger and stronger than anything we fear, anything we worry about, any sin we have committed, and any mess we are in. Not only that, we must believe that His love for us is greater than our fear. His love casts a radiance of light into any darkness we are facing. He assures us that the darkness cannot, will not overcome the light (John 1:5). [reflection from: https://walkingwithpurpose.com/do-not-fear-really-isaiah-4110/

Sep 12th
Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.”
Romans 8:11 is a powerful verse that speaks directly to the heart of Christian faith. It tells us about the incredible truth of life after death and the role that the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. The first part tells us that if the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, we have a great promise. This means that if we have accepted Jesus into our lives, we also have the Holy Spirit residing within us. This is significant because it connects us to the resurrection power of Christ. This verse signifies that we are not alone in our struggles, worries, or even our physical deaths; we have been given divine support. If death is not the end for Jesus, then it is also not the end for us, as long as we have faith in Him. This brings us hope and a deep sense of peace knowing that we too will experience resurrection in a heavenly form.
The second part of this verse… [continue reading]

Sep 11th

I remember reading this chapter when I was a kid and enjoyed the connection as a runner in track and cross country in high school. As I have matured, so has the meaning after wasting so much time on certain things in life, coming back to this reading is sobering.
From wau.org daily meditation
Daily Meditation: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27

Run so as to win. (1 Corinthians 9:24)

Did you know the first recorded Olympics Games happened nearly three thousand years ago, well before Jesus’ time? The athletic comparisons that St. Paul uses in today’s first reading, therefore, would have been familiar to his audience (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). But what is he saying exactly? Do we “win” our way into heaven only if we try hard enough, like an athlete training for the Olympics?

No—at least not exactly.

Scripture is clear that we cannot earn a place in heaven by our own efforts. The original sin passed down through our first parents is incompatible with the holiness of God and the perfection of his heavenly courts. Even your favorite saints—those people who tried their hardest to do good and serve God—knew that their efforts would never avail them this way. All the good they did and all the sacrifices they made arose from love for the Lord and gratitude for his free gift of salvation. They didn’t work hard so they could earn heaven. Jesus had already won the race for them—just as he did for us! It was because they had received salvation that they worked hard to bring it to everyone else.

St. Paul is warning us not to assume that Jesus’ sacrifice lets us off the hook from loving the Lord and serving his people. We need to approach our faith in the same way that a runner trains for a race or a boxer for a match: with intensity and discipline. Just as committed athletes structure their lives around their sport—devoting hours to practice, getting enough sleep, eating well—we should structure our lives around the Lord and make pleasing him our top priority. If an athlete does all this for love of the sport, how much more should we dedicate ourselves for love of our Savior!

There’s no way around it: the Christian life takes time and effort. But remember Paul’s words: everyone who runs the race of discipleship and service to God’s people will win an “imperishable” crown when they meet the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:25).

“Jesus, may I never lose sight of the salvation you have won for me!”